Even with a relatively deep journey into the Stanley Cup playoffs, it was a transition season, nonetheless, for the Red Wings.

It was life without Nicklas Lidstrom, one of the greatest defensemen ever, for the first time in two decades. Tomas Holmstrom, who played more than 1,000 games for the Red Wings, also had retired. The Red Wings lost arguably their second-best defenseman, Brad Stuart, to the San Jose Sharks via free agency.

The Red Wings not only survived, they often thrived.

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They squeezed into a spot in the playoffs. They advanced past Anaheim the opening round. They nearly upset the heavily-favored Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference semifinals.

The best part is what it might mean for the Red Wings' future.

While the Red Wings' nucleus of top skaters are those remaining for their most recent Stanley Cup championship in 2008 -- most notably Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg -- the Red Wings now feature a host of developing young players. They also have an established goalie. Jimmy Howard has yet to lead the Red Wings to a conference final, but he was the biggest factor in why the Red Wings' made the playoffs, and were so threatening once in the postseason.

The Red Wings have wiggle room this summer. There is maneuverability under the salary cap for general manager Ken Holland to tweak the roster.

The Red Wings aren't in a desperate situation. They don't have to do anything. They can be a bit choosy rather than overpaying for mediocre or washed-up talent, or trading their youth for veteran castoffs.

Smart and calculated moves inevitably pan out better than knee-jerk reactions. A classic example came last offseason.

There was panic among many Red Wings' fans when they didn't sign a premier free agent such as defenseman Ryan Suter or winger Zach Parise.

Instead, they signed forward Damien Brunner, who had starred in Europe. Brunner was one of the Red Wings' top goal scorers during the regular season, and scored key goals during the playoffs.

The Red Wings added ice time for Justin Abdelkader, putting him with Zetterberg and Datsyuk on the top line. He responded extremely well, benefiting the Red Wings' big guns by creating room on the ice with his rugged play.

Holland was similarly skewered for not making a trade near the deadline with the Red Wings' spot in the playoffs in limbo. He did, however, sign a college free agent, Danny DeKeyser from Western Michigan, who immediately stepped into the lineup and excelled.

The Red Wings aren't necessarily a plodding, older team any more.

DeKeyser and former first-round draft choice Brendan Smith, both defenseman, are excellent skaters.

As they become more confident, the Red Wings' inability to get the puck out of their own zone, and some of their issues on the power play, will improve.

Those aren't the only two young players with high ceilings in the near future. Forward Gustav Nyquist is uniquely skilled. He played very well during the playoffs, and it was just the tip of the iceberg.

For years, there has been clamoring for the Red Wings to move to the Eastern Conference. Finally, it will occur. Now that it is here, it is becoming a source of apprehension.

It shouldn't be.

The Western Conference has Chicago. The Eastern Conference has Pittsburgh. After that, parity rules in both conferences.

If we learned anything this past season, it's that the demise of the Red Wings was greatly exaggerated.

And that they should have a good -- and maybe very good -- team next season.